Cover assembly

ABSTRACT

A cover assembly for temporarily covering areas such as an ice rink, to support people or other items thereon. The assembly comprises a number of components ( 10 ) which can be engaged with other such components ( 10 ) placed adjacent thereto-on the surface to be covered. The components include upper and lower parts ( 12, 16 ) with a gap ( 20 ) being provided between such parts to provide insulation from the underlying area. Adjacent components ( 10 ) are retained together by locking means ( 22 ) which are provided on two adjacent sides of each component ( 10 ). and are selectively engageable in recesses ( 32 ) on adjacent components ( 10 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application is a national stage application, according to ChapterII of the Patent Cooperation Treaty. This application claims thepriority date of Apr. 6, 1999 for Great Britain Patent Application No.9907607.7.

This invention concerns a cover assembly, and particularly but notexclusively an area for covering an area of ice such as for example atan ice rink.

To make full use of venues such as ice rinks it is often desirable forthe ice to be covered to permit activities to take place other than onice. Such activities may comprise other sports such as boxing orbasketball, or concerts or other performances. A number of arrangementshave been proposed to temporarily cover ice, but in general these havenot been wholly satisfactory. For example, some do not providesufficient insulation, and others have proved quite expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a cover assembly,the assembly comprising a plurality of components engageable adjacenteach other to cover the ground or another surface, each componentcomprising an upper and lower part, each component being arranged suchthat the upper part defines an at least generally planar upper surfaceupon which a person can be supported, the lower part being engageablewith the ground or other surface, with a gap being provided between thelower and upper parts to provide insulation and such that the upper partis spaced from the ground or other surface.

A plurality of spaced formations are preferably provided on one of theupper or lower parts and supportingly engageable with the other of saidparts to space said parts apart. The formations are preferably providedin a regular pattern, and/or may be substantially frusto conical. Theformations are preferably provided on the lower part. The lower part ispreferably at least generally planar. The lower part may be formed froma single sheet of material with the formations being provided by shapingof the sheet.

The gap provided between the lower and upper parts is preferably filledwith insulating means. which may be a foamed material and desirablypolyurethane foam. Alternatively, the gap may be filled with air.

One or more openings may be provided extending into the gap to permitventing thereof.

The support surface of the upper part may be contoured, and may becontoured to aid the grip of persons walking thereon. Preferablyformations are provided on the support surface to aid the grip ofpersons walking thereon.

Each component may be of substantially rectangular shape and may besubstantially square.

Locking means may be provided for selectively retaining togetheradjacent components. The locking means may be provided on some of thesides, and desirably two of the sides, of the component. A plurality oflocking means may be provided along each said side.

The locking means may comprise a locking member mounted on the componentto be movable between a locked position extending generally laterallyfrom the component so as to be engageable with an adjacent component,and an unlocked position contained substantially wholly within thecomponent. The locking member is preferably pivotally mounted on thecomponent. The locking member may comprise a curved engagement part,which engagement part may be substantially arcuate.

Recesses or other formations may be provided on the sides of thecomponent with which the locking means is engageable.

Overlapping means may be provided on at least some of the sides of thecomponent to cover any gap between adjacent components. The overlappingmeans may be provided on the sides without locking means, theoverlapping means may comprise flanges.

The components may be made of plastics material and may be made of HDPE(High Density Polyethylene). The components may be made by twin sheetthermoforming, and the upper and lower parts may be integrally formed.

The invention also provides a component usable in a cover assemblyaccording to any of the preceding eleven paragraphs.

The invention yet further provides a temporary cover for ice, the coverbeing in the form of an assembly according to any of said precedingeleven paragraphs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way ofexample only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cover assembly component according tothe invention in a first locked condition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the component of FIG. 1 in a secondunlocked condition;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the component of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view from beneath of the component of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the component of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a more detailed view from underneath of part of the componentof FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a more detailed view from beneath of a further part of thecomponent of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a more detailed cross-sectional view through parts of twoadjacent engaged components according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE

The Drawings show a component 10 usable in a cover assembly according tothe invention suitable for instance for temporarily covering an icerink. The component 10 has a generally square configuration with anupper part 12 defining an upper surface 14 which can support people orother items thereon. The surface 14 may have any suitable formations(not shown) thereon to aid the grip of people walking on the component10. Such formations may be in the form of raised chevron shapedformations to create a non-slip surface.

The component 10 also has a lower part 16 which is generally planarapart from a plurality of spaced upwardly extending frusto conicalhollow projections 18 which extend to meet and support the upper part12, and a number of locking recesses (see below). The upper and lowerparts 12,18 define a gap 20 therebetween. Side walls are also providedfor the component 10 such that the gap 20 is substantially sealed apartfrom a small number of vent holes (not shown) which are provided. Theprojections 18 provide a generally dimpled effect on the underside ofthe component 10 (see FIGS. 4 and 6). The gap 20 can be filled with aninsulating material such as polyurethane foam, or with air.

Four spaced locking means 22 (not shown on FIG. 4) are provided on eachof two adjacent sides of the component 10. The locking means 22comprises a part circular downwardly open recess 24 in which ispivotally mounted a locking member 26. The member 26 is arranged tosubstantially wholly locate within the recess 24 in a closed position(FIG. 2) but have an arcuate finger 28 thereon extending from the recess24 when in a locked position (FIG. 1). Recesses 30 are provided atsimilar spacings on the other sides of the component 10. FIG. 8 showstwo components 10 with the locking means 22 on the left hand component10 engageable with the recess 30 on the right hand component.

A flange 32 is provided substantially co-planar with the upper surface14 the two sides of the component 10 which do not have locking means 22.The flanges 32 ensure that no gap exists between the sides of adjacentcomponents 10 in use.

The components 10 are formed by twin sheet thermoforming of HDPE withthe upper and lower parts 12,16 integrally formed. The locking members26 are subsequently pivotally mounted thereon by fingers 34 whichrotatably locate in holes in the upper part 12. The fingers 34 areprovided on their upper ends which are substantially coplanar with thesurface 14, with a recess (not shown) to permit rotation thereof by atool, and hence locking or unlocking by a person standing on the surface14.

In use, any required number of components 10 can be mounted together tocover for instance an ice rink. The adjacent components 10 can readilybe locked together by the locking means 22 by a person standing on oradjacent the components 10, and using a tool to engage with the fingers34. The components 10 can be separated from each other and subsequentlyremoved in a similar straightforward manner. The provision of the gap 20filled with air or polyurethane foam between the upper and lower parts12,16, and also beneath the projections 18, provides for very goodinsulation from the cold of the ice. Furthermore, the use of HDPE alsoprovides good insulation. There is thus described a cover assembly whichpermits an ice rink or other surface to readily be covered whilstproviding good insulation against the cold ice. The cover assembly isrelatively strong yet can be inexpensively manufactured.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention. For example different formations could be providedextending between the upper and lower parts. Different locking meanscould be used. The components could be made of different materialsand/or a different shape. Insulating materials other than polyurethanefoam, such as other foamed materials, could be used to fill the gapbetween the upper and lower parts.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention tothose features of the invention believed to be of particular importanceit should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respectof any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbeforereferred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particularemphasis has been placed thereon.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cover assembly comprising a plurality ofcomponents (10) engagable adjacent each other to cover the ground oranother surface, each component (10) comprising an upper (12) and lowerpart (16), each component (10) being arranged such that the upper part(12) defines an at least generally planar upper surface (14) upon whicha person can be supported, the lower part (16) being engagable with theground or other surface, with a gap (20) being provided between thelower and upper parts (16, 12) to provide insulation and such that theupper part (12) is spaced from the ground or other surface, overlappingmeans (32) being provided on at least some of the sides of the component(10) to cover any gap between adjacent components (10), locking means(22) being provided for selectively retaining together adjacentcomponents (10), the locking means (22) comprising a locking member (26)mounted on the component (10) to be movable between a locked positionextending generally laterally from the component (10) so as to beengagable with an adjacent component (10), and an unlocked positioncontained substantially wholly within the component (10).
 2. A coverassembly according to claim 1, characterised in that a plurality ofspaced formations are provided on one of the upper or lower parts (12,16) and supportingly engageable with the other of said parts to spacesaid parts (12, 16) apart.
 3. A cover assembly according to claim 2,characterised in that the formations are provided in a regular pattern.4. A cover assembly according to claim 2, characterised in that theformations are substantially frusto conical.
 5. A cover assemblyaccording to claim 2, characterised in that the formations (18) areprovided on the lower part (16).
 6. A cover assembly according to claim5, characterised in that the lower part (16) is at least generallyplanar.
 7. A cover assembly according to claim 6, characterised in thatthe lower part (16) is formed from a single sheet of material with theformations (18) being provided by shaping of the sheet.
 8. A coverassembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the gap (20)provided between the lower and upper parts (16, 12) is filled withinsulating means.
 9. A cover assembly according to claim 1,characterised in that the gap is filled with air.
 10. A cover assemblyaccording to claim 1, characterised in that the support surface (14) ofthe upper part (12) is contoured.
 11. A cover assembly according toclaim 10, characterised in that the support surface (14) is contoured toaid the grip of persons walking thereon.
 12. A cover assembly accordingto claim 1, characterised in that each component (10) is ofsubstantially rectangular shape.
 13. A cover assembly according to claim12, characterised in that each component (10) is substantially square.14. A cover assembly according to claim 1, charaterised in that thelocking means (22) are provided on some of the sides of the component(10).
 15. cover assembly according to claim 14, characterised in thatthe locking means (22) are provided on two of the sides of the component(10).
 16. A cover assembly according to claim 14, characterised in thata plurality of locking means (22) are provided along each said side. 17.A cover assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the lockingmember (26) is pivotally mounted on the component (10).
 18. A coverassembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking member(26) comprises a curved engagement part (28).
 19. A cover assemblyaccording to claim 18, characterised in that the engagement part (28)may be substantially arcuate.
 20. A cover assembly according to claim 1,characterised in that recesses (30) or other formations are provided onthe sides of the component with which the locking means (22) isengageable.
 21. A cover assembly according to claim 1, characterised inthat the overlapping means (32) are provided on the sides withoutlocking means (22).
 22. A cover assembly according to claim 1,characterised in that the overlapping means (32) comprises flanges. 23.A cover assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that thecomponents (10) are made of plastics material.
 24. A cover assemblyaccording to claim 23, characterised in that the components (10) aremade of HDPE (High Density Polyethylene).
 25. A cover assembly accordingto claim 23, characterised in that the components (10) are made by twinsheet thermoforming.
 26. A cover assembly according to claim 25,characterised in that the upper and lower parts (12, 16) are integrallyformed.
 27. A component usable in a cover assembly according claim 1.28. A temporary cover for ice, the cover being in the form of anassembly according to claim 1.